Bio-fertilizer & Bio-Pesticide Production, Cameroon

Project name: Bio-fertilizer & Bio-Pesticide Production

Project location: Ber-Kibang, Jakiri Sub-Division,  North West Region, Cameroon

URL Website: http://radi4life.org/

URL Facebook or other social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/RADI4life/

Project description:

Super-Limax (bio-fertilizer) is composed from food waste, soil fertility plant extract (Mucuna), biochar and livestock waste. The bio-pesticide(Winox) is obtained from fermented Mucuna plant extract and Neem tree. This idea was conceived in 2010 during a Masters programme in Sustainable Agriculture between Chiang Mai University Thailand and University of Hohenheim Germany. It was first tested in June 2015 at Ber-Jakiri , Cameroon by RADI Company Limited. This bio-fertilizer is produced to reduce the problem faced by farmers who complain that after using chemical fertilizers for long, their yields keep fluctuating year after year and that some crops are becoming resistant to pests.

The experimental trials were set on the rice, maize and tomato fields in the village of Ber. A glaring example was seen in a hectare rice field where 100kg of Super-Limax was applied in the field and the yield obtained was 10 bags (100kg) of rice compared to the 7 bags in the previous year. In the maize field trial, 75 kg of Super-Limax was applied in ½ hecatare and a ton of maize was harvested. With the tomato field trial, 45kg of Super-Limax was applied and 20 baskets (15kg) were harvested.

In September 2016, we produced a prototype product for the market where 100 bags were sold to local farmers in Ber at $30 each. There was much demand but we couldn’t produce more due to limited financial resources. This product has been recommended by the Cameroon Rice Corporation (UNVDA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
We are looking forward to receive financial assistance in order to produce Super-Limax fertilizer and Winox in a large scale nation-wide and Africa at large.

Super-Limax fertilizer is cost effective, safe and eco-friendly. Many local farmers would be able to afford since the price of synthetic fertilizer is too high. This project would also employ many rural youths who are unemployed and reduce rural exodus. This would have a trickle-down effect as rural livelihoods would be improved as well as their income.

Goal and purpose of the project:

•    The main goal of the project is to promote bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides for the production of healthy food for healthy living and enhance soil health.
•    The purpose for producing Super-Limax (bio-fertilizer) and bio-pesticide (Winox) is to meet the increasing demand for bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide worldwide that  is considered eco-fiendly,safe and cost-effective rather than chemical fertilizers and pesticides resulting to environmental pollution and residual toxicity in humans.
•    More so, bio-fertilizer  and bio-pesticide production would employ hundreds of young people in the rural area and end rural exodus.
•    It would also enhance socio-economic growth and development in the village concerned.

Motivation of the applicant / applicant team:

My inspiration came from my parents who are farmers. At the age of 10, we assisted our parents during the planting and harvesting seasons. My parents divided their 10 hectares plot equally into two. My father took 5 hectares and my mother had 5 hectares. When it was time to applied fertilizer, my father only used cow dung in his farm and my mother used Urea. At 23, I discovered that my father usually has more yields than my mother. He has never complained of a bad harvest but my mother used to complain a lot.I was so interested to know why the difference. I came across a Double  Master’s programme in Sustainable Agriculture & Agricultural Economics sponsored by DAAD  between Chiang MAI University Thailand and University of Hohenheim Germany. The field excursions in Thailand helped me to connect back home since it is a tropical area and i began to conceive my ideas.I did several soil sample tests using electronic sensors with soil pH , soil nutrient and earthworm  tests to depict if there are differences in my parents two plots. I had good results from my father ‘s plot that gave me the inspiration to produce bio-farm products (Super-limax & Winox)  for other farmers to produce healthy food.

Use of prize money:

If  we are granted the 15,000 Euros, We would use the money in the following order:
•    Machinery and Equipment
Granulators & Pelletizers (2) - 2000 euros
Portable bag closers (5) - 500 euros
•    Working Capital
Raw materials - 5000 euros
Employees (20) - 6000 euros/annually
Utilities - 1500 euros

Total Estimate - 15,000 euros